Crime & Justice

Suspect in Fontana man's murder commits suicide in custody

A man who was arrested Tuesday in connection with the death of his ex-girlfriend's father was found dead in his jail cell, San Bernardino sheriffs officer said Thursday.

18-year-old Richard Gonzalez was found hanging from a sheet in his cell 6:50 p.m. Wednesday night by his cellmate, according to sheriffs department spokeswoman Cindy Bachman. He was pronounced dead at 7:15 p.m., she said.

Gonzalez one of three suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Alejandro Padilla, 40, according to Fontana Police Sgt. Doug Imhof. Padilla had been found in his torched Nissan Versa, a day after he'd gone missing from his home.

Investigators said Padilla... was beaten and abducted outside his Fontana home July 26.

He was leaving for work about 5 a.m. when he was attacked, leaving behind a blood-spattered driveway, garage door and utility box.

The other two suspects arrested were 18-year-old Edward Anthony Morales — who was booked for murder — and his mother, 37-year-old Alma Casada — who was arrested as an accessory to murder, Fontana police said.

Sgt. Imhof said police suspect the murder was the result of a botched robbery. Anthony Morales dated the victim's daughter at one time, he said, though the two had been broken up for several months.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the murder victim.